Read Online Copp In The Dark, A Joe Copp Thriller (Joe Copp Private Eye Series) by Don Pendleton - Free Book Online Page A

plenty of stress.
    Judith was carrying a tall glass of water when she came back in. She'd been crying but seemed fully in control again.
    "I wanted to kill him myself last night," she quietly told me as she returned to her chair. "Who did it?"
    I said, "Well, that's the big question of the moment. Another one is why. I'm hoping you can help me with the second one."
    "Well, he was the biggest liar I've ever known," she said matter-of-factly. "And he was almost totally irresponsible. Other than that, though, the sweetest guy in the world. And a great talent. With the right break...what do you want me to tell you?"
    "I'd like to know why someone would want to kill him, for real."
    She had to excuse herself again. I waited, but not
    patiently. Didn't know how much time I might have before the posse arrived. She came back after a minute or two with a blotchy face and said, "I'm sorry. Where were we?"
           "Why was he killed." I made it a statement, not a question.
           She shook her head. "I wouldn't have the faintest idea. Such a waste."
           I said, "Yeah. There's a lot of waste in our world today. But tell me about Craig. What did he waste?"
           "Time," she replied immediately. "And energy. Talked too much, maybe he dreamed too much. Lied too much."
           "About what?"
           "About everything. Many actors do that. It's sort of like . . . being unable to distinguish between the dream and the reality."
           "Did he tell you that he was an undercover cop?"
             She laughed softly. "No. But I wouldn't put it past him."
           "Did he ever tell you that he was being guarded by federal marshals?"
           She wrinkled her nose. "No. What is a federal marshal?"
           "Something like a sheriff," I explained, "except at federal level. The two guys who were chasing me backstage last night, the two in waiter's garb—do you know those guys?"
           She said, "They work here, sure."
           "As waiters?"
           "Yes."
           "How long?"
           "Waiters come and go," she replied. "I don't know how long they've been here."
           "Had you ever noticed them in company with Craig?"
           "No."
           I told her, "Those two are deputy United States
    Marshals. It's been hinted to me that they are protecting someone here, maybe Craig, under the Federal Witness Protection Program. Does that give you any quivers?"
           She shook her head in negative response but the eyes were beginning to show some new wonderment.
           I asked, "How well do you know Elaine Suzanne?"
           "Not personally at all," Judith replied. "This is her first production with us."
           "Talented?"
           "Oh yes."
           "More or less reliable?"
           "More or less, yes."
           "More than less?"
           "Less than more," she said.
           "Were she and Craig honeys?"
           "I guess she'd like to be."
           I saw something in the eyes there that prompted me to ask, "Was Craig gay?"
           "How would I know?"
           "Women are usually the first to know."
           "I don't mix much with the cast offstage," she told me.       "The actors come and go. I don't, I'm here all the time for all the shows—and while we're staging one play I'm usually trying to prepare for the next one."
           "This one has had an unusually long run."
           "Yes."
           "What made this one special?"
           "Craig made it special."
           "He was that good?"
           "He was the best I've ever seen in that role."
           "So you weren't surprised when someone stepped forward to package it for the road."
           Her eyes clouded. "Well . . . I'm wondering now . . . that could be another of Craig's tall tales."
           I reached for another cigarette but didn't light it, just held